Windows 10: Questions about M.2 Memory

Hi

I'm investigating what M.2 memory is all about and what is involved in getting it up and running. I've already learnt a lot in just browsing various websites that explain what it is.

At present though, my husband seems to be having problems running Trainz on his PC and it seems like a faster drive would be useful to say the least in overcoming those problems. Since he has a mobo with an M.2 M socket on it he could quite happily install an NVMe x4 into his PC to use for storing the files. One question though: once it is installed, does it appear in "This PC" in the same way as any other drive. If it does, presumably it can be used as pretty much a normal drive would be. Pretty elementary questions I know but I would prefer to know before I pay my money as we have some very big expenses coming up.

Oh! One other question about M.2 add-on cards. I wouldn't have thought you could expect the same improvement in speed from an M.2 adapter card as you would get from a socket on the mobo but what is the difference between the two and is it worth worrying about? The only reason I ask is that I don't have an M.2 socket on my mobo and I'm just wondering for future reference.

Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks.

Tracey

PS As you can guess from the above I am not suggesting that my husband uses M.2 memory as a boot device.

:)

 

M.2 and SATA Express questions

Hi,

I just got a Gigabyte Z97-HD3P MB and I am confused by this statement - "SATA Express connector & M.2 slot can only be enabled one at a time".

2 questions -

• Can I use both a M.2 and SATA Express drive at the same time?
• Can I use 2 Samsung 850 EVO 250GB (1 M.2 and 1 SATA Express) in RAID 0?

Thanks

 

M.2 SSD not being able to boot from it, windows doesn't recognise.


Ok, this is what happened after all the comments and suggestions, @Dude: Thanx for the video, my mb had non e of those settings, it had the raid/option memory gene or achi. Can only choose one or the other. @Saltgrass, my settings did point out auto and enabled the pcie x4, gen 3. I did an bios flash as suggested, because my bios was not the latest version, after a reformat the m.2 was picked up, still cant install OS onto it as it states legacy not found, removed my dvd rom from the sata port to another, and the drive was found and installed. Only issue now is that it's still not my OS drive but it at least now works and is installed, but on the Intel rst drive the obtain memory gene option to enable is greyed out, and shows as disabled. However the program lists the M.2 and it is working 100%,. I installed overwhatch onto it, it performs perfectly. But will update the intel driver tonight and see if that makes any difference. Seems the bios flash enabled the settings listed by @Dude that was not present pre-flash.

So the m.2 drive works. I can game off it and install omnto it. Can not install windows on it, gene memmory is enabled, pcie x4 is on and on auto detect, Motherbaord lists all the drives connected, motherboard ahs been updated to latest bios. After flash new settings became available, m.2 is now on memmory gene enabled not achi, windows os is enabled and fast boost is enabled, intel rst is installed and lists all the ssds and the m.2, however the m.2 on memmory gene is dissabled and the option to enable is greyed out. Will update the driver as Essenbe suggested of the m.2 and see if anything changes. Thank you all for the help, I can now atleast use my m.2

 

looking for help with M.2 SSD compatability question, please

yeah, i went on theyre site and schecked the list, but then when i went looking for one to buy i noticed that they are listed in ways that Arent listed in that "support" page.

namely This....

M.2-2242
M.2-2260
M.2-2280

etc... listed as the SSD's "FORM" that is where my ignorance on the matter becomes a problem.i just rather ask once or twice, than order the wrong item, im sure you can understand that